Mahākhandhako The Great Chapter - Ancient Buddhist Texts

The Great Chapter - 32
Atha kho Brahmā Sahampati, ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā,
Then Brahmā Sahampati, after arranging his upper robe on one shoulder,
dakkhiṇaṁ jāṇumaṇḍalaṁ paṭhaviyaṁ nihantvā,
placing his right knee on the earth,
yena Bhagavā tenañjaliṁ paṇāmetvā, Bhagavantaṁ etad-avoca:
and raising his hands in respectful salutation, said this to the Gracious One:
“Desetu Bhante Bhagavā Dhammaṁ desetu Sugato Dhammaṁ,
“Let the Gracious One preach the Dhamma, venerable Sir, let the Fortunate One
preach the Dhamma,
santi sattā apparajakkhajātikā assavanatā Dhammassa parihāyanti,
there are beings with little dust 82 on the eyes who are perishing through not hearing
the Dhamma,
bhavissanti Dhammassa aññātāro” ti.
there will be those who understand the Dhamma.” 83
Idam-avoca Brahmā Sahampati, idaṁ vatvāna athāparaṁ etad-avoca:
Brahmā Sahampati said this, and after saying this he said something more:
“Pātūr-ahosi Magadhesu pubbe
“Formerly there appeared amongst the Magadhans
Dhammo asuddho samalehi cintito,
An impure Dhamma, invented by those still stained, 84
Apāpuretaṁ Amatassa dvāraṁ
Open this door 85 to the Deathless
Suṇantu Dhammaṁ Vimalenānubuddhaṁ.
Let them hear the Dhamma understood by the Pure One.
82 Comm: rāgadosamoharajaṁ; the dust of passion, hatred, and delusion.
83 Comm: aññātāro ti paṭivijjhitāro; those who understand means those who penetrate.
Although this last clause is awkward, the meaning seems straightforward, and I am not quite
sure how Mrs. C F Rhys-Davids arrives at They who come to know ... will come to be, will
become; or I. Horner, who follows her with: They who learn will grow. BD, IV, p. 8, which
both obscures and changes the meaning.
84 Comm: chahi Satthārehi cintito; invented by the six Teachers. It means the six famous
teachers in Lord Buddha’s time: Pūraṇa Kassapa, Makkhali Gosāla, Ajita Kesakambali,
Pakudha Kaccāyana, Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta, and Nigaṇṭha Nāṭaputta.
85 Comm: Amatassa Nibbānassa dvārabhūtaṁ Ariyamaggaṁ; the Noble Path which is the true
door to the Deathless Emancipation.